Visit the Kafue National Park, Zambia

At over 22,000 sq km the Kafue National Park is a huge magical wilderness. It boasts wide tropical rivers full of hippo, vast floodplains with herds of grazers and twisted fig trees where lion are found in the branches.

With few visitors it's wild and untamed. The Lufupa and Lunga Rivers twist and turn through the central part of the park. Boating along these you will see the corrugated backs of crocodiles gliding silently under overhanging trees. Birdlife in this area is stunning, with pied kingfishers darting in and out of the water, African jacanas skating across the water's surface and fish eagles calling overhead. In the woodland and forest surrounding the river, you find warthogs rooting in the undergrowth and herds of puku and impala grazing in the clearings. By night, this is also one of the best areas in the park for spotting leopard. Wildlife sightings in this central tract of the park is rewarding, with lion, cheetah and wild dogs present, as well as buffalo, elephant and more. The size of the park means that animal habitats are vast, so densities are not as concentrated as some smaller parks. In our experience, the game viewing is rewarding and made all the more special by the fact that you are highly unlikely to see another soul on a game drive!

Further north, the Busanga Plains are a highlight. Seasonal floodplains, these immense grasslands are only accessible from June to October. Here the new shoots attract large herds of puku, red lechwe, zebra, Lichtenstein's hartebeest, blue wildebeest, oribi and sable antelope. Cheetah stalk through the stubbly grass and prides of lion relax along the branches of fig trees in between hunting in the open grasslands. With clouds of openbill storks overhead the wildlife surrounds you. In season, this is a real delight, and a very different landscape to the central and southern parts of the park.

The south of the Kafue is different again. The wide river becomes dotted with islands and sandbanks, home to stunning birdlife and characterised by huge granite boulders. Wildlife densities in the south are not as high, but in combination with the central or northern parts of the park makes a wonderful place to enjoy the beautiful river. We recommend adding a couple of days here at the end of your safari, taking leisurely boat cruises through the waterways, stopping for coffee breaks on an island's sandy shore, and perhaps enjoying a spot of fishing.